Oral Mucositis and Stomatitis Associated with Conventional and Targeted Anticancer Therapy

It is indisputable that the effective treatment of malignancies is often limited by the harm inflicted on normal, healthy cells [1]. Given their high rate of turnover, mucosal cells in the oral cavity are highly susceptible to the toxic effects of cancer treatment [2]. Toxicities of the oral cavity, which include mucositis and stomatitis, are some of the most significant and unavoidable toxicities associated with cancer treatment [3]. Advances in the ability of anticancer treatment to damage and kill cancer cells has also led to changes in the incidence, nature, and severity of oral complications [3]. Cytotoxic chemotherapy has long been associated with a high risk of oral toxicity. However, the risk associated with the newer targeted agents is only begun to be realized. Despite being underreported and often under recognized, oral toxicities have a tremendous impact on the cancer patient and on the resources of the healthcare system. For example, oral toxicities are a common cause of dose delays and interruptions of cancer therapy [4]. Unfortunately, the currently available treatments for oral toxicities are primarily palliative and in many cases, only marginally effective [57]. The lack of effective treatments and prevention strategies may be attributed to the fact that research on oral toxicities has lagged behind research on other chemotherapy and radiation-related toxicities such as febrile neutropenia and nausea and vomiting [4].